Method and apparatus for transferring and delivering lath to perforating machines



Sept. 9, 1941. N. SORENSEN 2,255,723 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH T0 PERFORATING' MACHINES Filed D60. 15, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snnentor A 00/15 A. 50/205611 f awbi (Ittorneg Sept. 9, 1941.

L. N. SORENSEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH TO PERFORATING MACHINES F iled Dec. 15, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnentor 100/5 2 fibre/wen P 1941. N. SORENSEN 2,255,723

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH To PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 15, 1959 a Sheets-Sheet :5

3nvento Lou/5 /V. 5areluen' attorney Sept. 9, 1941.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH TO PERFORATING MACHINES ICE Z-a' L. N. SORENSEN 5,

Filed Dec. 15, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 (Ittorneg w w 3 s w m 2 t. e 1 7, w, w a 5 m w .l 5 5 \m u N 2 w 5 2 w Q 1 LATH TO PERFORA'IING MACHINES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFE BRING AND DELIVERING TN PW IIL Sept. 9, 1941.

9, 1941. 1.. N. SORENSEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH TO PERFORATING MACHINES 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec.

7 .4 00115 N Sore/i590 attorney p 9 L. N. SORENSEN 2,255,723 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING Y LATH TO PERFORATING MACHINES 7 Filed Dec. 15, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Snnentor law's N Sarensen (Ittorneg Sept. 9, 1941. 1 N, SQRENSEN 2,255,723 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND DELIVERING LATH TO PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 15, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ZSnuentor Zoo/ls N. Sarensen (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 9, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFER- RING AND DELIVERING LATH TO PERFO" RATING MACHINES Louis N. Sorcnsen, Port Clinton, Ohio, assignor to The Celotex Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1939, Serial No. 309,370

23 Claims.

My invention relates to a perforator transfer method and apparatus and in particular to the type of perforator transfer that may be used in the manufacture of perforated gypsum lath or the like.

In particular this invention relates to an apparatus for removing one or more gypsum lath from the main stream of manufacture, and feeding the lath so removed through the perforating mechanism described and illustrated in my application Serial No. 278,212 filed June 8, 1939.

The main object is to provide a means for removing one or more of a plurality of forward moving elements, such as gypsum lath or the like, from the main stream, performing any desired operation, such as perforating, on the elements so removed, and returning said elements to the main stream in synchronism with its forward movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of operating on ypsum lath, the method or process consisting in removing one or more of a plurality of forward moving lath, from the main stream, performing any desired operation, such as perforating on the elements so removed, and returning said elements to the main stream in synchronism with its forward movement.

These and other objects and advantages may be noted from the following specification and its accompanying illustrations in which:

Figs. 1a, 1b and 10 show a continuous plan view of the perforator transfer apparatus,Fig.1ashowin the removing means, Fig. 11) showing the perforating means and Fig. 10 showing the returning means.

Figs. 2a, 2b and 20 show a continuous side elevation of Figs. la, 1b and 10.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view partly in elevation on line 33 of Fig. 1a, of the apparatus for removing the lath from the main stream and delivering it to the conveyor which feeds it into the perforating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but with the transfer mechanism in the raised position lifting the elements to be perforated, from the main stream.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view partly in section of the apparatus for actuating and timing the clutch operating mechanism and the mechanism which raises the lath above the supplementary transfer to permit lath not perforated to come onto the said transfer. This view taken approximately on lines 5-5 of Fig. 1c shows the clutch 55 engaged and the lath raising mechanism in lowered position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, taken approximately on lines 6-6 of Fig. 1c, but showing the clutch disengaged and the lath raising mechanism in raised position with the lath transversely on the supplementary transfer.

Again referring to the illustrations: the roller conveyor is indicated by the numeral l0, and receives thereon one or more strings of formed lath or elements ll, cut to suitable size; these lath are fed to the transfer l2 preparatory to being delivered over the tipple (not shown) into the drying kilns.

The forward end of the outside moving lath l l strikes a trip or paddle I3 secured upon a rod l4 cross ways of the line of travel of said lath. The lath striking the paddle l3 causes said paddle to rotate, which also rotates a sprocket I5 secured on the end of the rod I4, causing a chain l6 mounted thereover, to be drawn upward over a sprocket H.

The upward pull of the chain [6 raises a bar I 8 to which the lower end of said chain is secured, the bar l8 which is hinged at I9, releases a clutch arm from a catch 2| on said bar, thus disengaging the clutch arm 20.

A chain 22, to one end of which is attached a weight 23, is drawn down over a pulley 24 by said weight, causing the clutch arm 20, to which the opposite end of the chain 22 is attached to engage the clutch 25 on the shaft 26.

The shaft 26 is driven by a sprocket 21 through a chain 28 from the main board machine drive (not shown).

The engagement of the clutch 25 drives a shaft 29 through the spur gears 30 and 3| and rotation of said shaft 29 drives a shaft 32 through sprockets 33 and 34 and a chain 35.

Also mounted on the shaft 32 is a second sprocket 36 which drives a series of shafts 31 through a sprocket 33 and chain 39. There are four shafts 31, each shaft end being mounted in bearings 40, said bearings being secured to cross members 4| above and 42 below; sprockets 3301. are mounted on the outer ends of each shaft 31 andtiming chains 43 and 43a are mounted thereover, one chain encircling the outer periphery of the four sprockets 38 on the one end and the other chain encircling the four sprockets 38a, on the opposite end of the shafts 31.

Actuating rod 44a. is attached at one end to the chain 430. by a lug 450., while rod 44 is attached to the chain 43 by a lug 45. The actuating rod 44a is pivotally secured at its opposite'end to a lever arm 46, said lever arm being mounted centrally of a shaft 41. 7

As the chains 43 and 43a travel, the rod 44a draws the lever arm 46 to the left causing elevat mounted on the I lever 5i. A second lever 53 is centrallym'ounted" on a shaft 54' and is attached at its upper end to the opposite end of the actuating-arm 52.

On the opposite ends of the shaft 54 are mounteda pair of levers 55, to the opposite ends of which are pivotally secured one end of actuating arms 56, the opposite ends of said arms 56 are pivotally secured on a rod-56a secured through the inner end of the trolley carriage 50. Thus as the front end of the trolley track 56a is raised by the action of the rod 46 rotating with the chain 43, the inner end of the carriage .56 is raised by the action of the numerous levers and arms hereinabove described. a

The upward movement of the trolley carriage or track 56 raises a trolley buggy 51 which is slidably mounted between two trolley wheels 58 and 5811. within the mounting 59; i To the top of a trolley 66, mounted over the outer end of the track 56a, is secured a pair of angles BI and 62 which form a channel within which are secured trolley wheels 63 at each end. Cross bars 562) are pivotally secured to the buggy 5! at one end, their opposite ends secured to angles 66a secured to the trolley 65. 1 j Secured to the trolley 66 are a series of racks 64 and 65 which move in unison with the movement of the trolley wheels 63 on the track 50a.

As the racks 64 and 65 are about to move upward and back to the position shown in Fig. 4, with the action of the levers which lift the trolley carriage 56 and track 56a, the racks '65 are ele vated to a position slightly above the conveyer I0 and thus lift'the outer. or right hand length of lath II from the conveyer and at the same time lengths of lath II that have been deposited by the racks 64 and 65 on-stationary racks 66 and 66a in previous cycles are lifted oifof the said stationary racks 66 and 66a by the moving racks 64 and 65 as they move forward and drop down to and below the position shown in Fig. 3, thus depositing the selected length of lath I I- upon the rolls 6?, as the lowest position is reached.

To more fully explain the operation of the removal of the lath'II fromthe conveyer III, the arrows on Fig. 4 indicatethe direction of travel of the trolley 66, to which the moving racks 64 and 65 are secured; this outward movement of the trolley 66 takes place upon the completionjof the upward movement of the trolley carriage 56 and trolley tracka when the selected lath vII is raised above the conveyer I 0 by the upper moving rack which also raises on its outer end, a lath II previously deposited upon the stationary rack 66.

Simultaneous with the raising of the lath I I by the, upper moving rack 65, the lower moving rack 64 lifts a lath II from the stationary rack 66a; the upward movement of the trolley track 56a and carriage 56 being thus completed, the outtrolley track and carriage causes the upper moving rack 65 todeposit the lath II, removed from the stationary rack 66, on the stationary rack 66a.

trolley track and carriage causes the lower moving rack 64 to deposit the lath II, lifted from stationary rack 66a, on the rollers 61, whereupon the cycle is again started by the inward movement of the trolley carriage and track as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3.

The mechanism is so timed by the position of the lugs 45 and 45a on the chain 43 and 430., that when the movable racks 64 and 65 have reached.

the top of their travel, the rod 44, movably secured to the trolley buggy 51, through the brackets 66, moves the said buggy outward;

When the buggy 51 has reached the end of its outward travel, the chain 43a has reached a point whereby the rod 46a actuates the lever arm 46 in an outward movement thereby lowering the car- Y riage 56 and track 560., this continuous movement-causes the lifting of the lengths oflath II from the stationary racks 66 and 66a by the movable racks 64 and .65. This program of operation of the racks and buggy as just above (16-. scribed causes first the lifting of the lengths of lath H from the conveyer I6 and deposits same on the stationary racks 66, while at the same time a lath I I will be lifted from the stationary racks 66 'and deposited on the stationary racks 66a, both by the movement of the movable racks65, and a lath II is lifted from the stationary racks 66a and deposited upon the auxiliary conveyer rolls 61 by the movable racks 64. Arrows on Figs.

3 and 4 indicate the direction of travel of the carriage and track. 1

As the chain 43a continues its travel, the rod 44a draws the lever arm 46 inwardly, this inward movement of the lever arm also draws the rod inwardly; the catch 2| thereon engaging the clutch arm 26, disengaging the clutch 25 until the paddle I3 is again rotated by the lath I I.

Mounted on the shaft 26 is a sprocket 69 which drives a shaft I6 through a chain II and a large sprocket I2. A sprocket I3 mounted over the shaft I6 drives the rolls 61 through a chain I4 and sprockets I5 mounted on a roller shaft 19a.

The shaft I0 is mounted-through a pair of bearings I6 within hangers II.

A chain I8 drives rolls I9 through sprockets 66and 8| on the roller shafts 61a and 19a.

The continuous chain 74a revolve sprockets a on'the roller shafts 67a, while the continuous" chain 1.8a revolves sprockets Bid on roller shafts 1911, which causes, all the rollers 61 and I9 re-- spectively to rotate simultaneously.

As the racks 64 deposit the lath I I on the r0115 The completed downward movement of said end being secured to a clutch arm 99 around a pulley 9|.

A tension spring 92 is secured to the floor 93 at one end, the opposite end is attached to the clutch arm 99, thus when the weight 88 raises with the chain 83, releasing the tension on the clutch arm 99, the tension spring 92 draws the said clutch arm 99 to the left causing a clutch 94 to engage.

The engagement of the clutch 94 causes a chain 95 to drive the perforator mechanism I59 through the sprocket 96. The action of said perforator mechanism I59 is fully explained in my application, Serial No. 278,212, filed June 8, 1939.

To operate the perforating mechanism, the chain 91 traveling over the sprocket 98 carries an angle 99 which at the completion of the travel of said chain, engages the arm 81, drawing it forward and causing the clutch 94 to be disengaged thereby stopping the perforation until another lath IIa is deposited upon the rolls 6! by the racks 64.

After the lath I Ia are carried through the perforating mechanism I59 by the chain I99 and the lugs I9I thereon, the said lath are picked up by the rolls I92 and I920, and carried along toward the transfer I2.

A motor I94, mounted on the cat walk I95, drives a shaft I96 through a belt I9! and pulley I98; a sprocket I96a on the shaft I96 drives a shaft I99 through a chain H9 and sprocket III which is controlled by a clutch H2.

The rolls I92, I92a and I93 are driven by the motor I94 through the clutch I I2 which is timed by a chain II3, the action being as follows: as the main stream of lath approach the transfer A from the perforator, a beam from a photo electric cell (not shown) is broken which starts a system of timing switches so that when the main stream of lath reaches the end of the transfer, a series of plates II4 beneath the transfer belts II5 are raised, lifting the lath II above the rolls I I6, simultaneously a motor (not shown) starts driving shafts II'I having pulleys II8 thereon.

Lath for perforating are removed only from each alternate series of three lath after they have been cut to length so that a full three lath are delivered to the transfer A followed by two lath.

As the shaft II'I rotates a sprocket II9, it drives the chain II3 which is held in tension by an idler roller I29. As the said chain II3 moves, the lug I2I secured thereto, forces a lever arm I22 pivoted at I23, forward, causing a catch I24 on an operating rod I26, to engage a clutch lever I25, moving it forward to engage the clutch H2 and start the rolls I92, I920, and I93.

The roll I92a has collars I 21 thereon to iron out any unevenness in the latch I la caused by the perforating operation.

The lath II move forward on supplemental conveyer rolls I93 driven by the chain I29 until the end of the lath strikes the paddle I29 mounted on a shaft I39; the pivoting of the paddle, rotates a sprocket I 3| pulling upon a chain I32 over the idler roll I32a and disengaging the catch I24 from the clutch lever I25.

A tension spring I33 draws the clutch lever I25 to the left where the catch I24 is released from the clutch lever I25, disengaging the clutch H2 and stopping the rotation of the rolls I92, I92a and I93.

Following or contemporaneous with the arrival of the perforated lath I Ia on the ancillary transfer B, a full complement of three lath arrive on the main transfer A, the plates II4 lifting, the belts II4 rise, and the three lath II are moved sidewise on the belts II5 while the single perforated lath He is moved upon the lifting rack Mounted on the shaft II! is a sprocket I35 driving a timing chain I39 over an idler roller I31, thus when the perforated lath Ila reaches a position over the lifting rack I34, a lug I38 on the chain I36 strikes the end of a lever I39 which is pivoted at I49.

A drawing to the right of a link I4I causes a rotation of a pair of cams I42 on a shaft I43 through a cam lever I44; rotation of the cams on the shaft I43, raises the lifting rack supports I45 and I450. mounted on a cross bar I46 thus elevating the lifting rack I34 and lifting the perforated lath Hot from the rolls I93.

The lifting rack support I45a. is attached to the bottom of the plates II4 for the belts H5 and as these plates lower, the cams I42 act partially as pivoting points to raise the lifting rack I34.

After the l-ath II, on the transfer A, is moved sidewise by the belts I I5, a string of two lath II are delivered by the side of the perforated lath I Ia to make a full complement of six lath on the transfer, the six lath are again moved slightly sidewise to place them in position to be delivered to the tipple (not shown). This second sidewise movement releases the lever I39 from the lug I38 on the chain I36 and the lifting rack I34 drops down and out of the way of the forward moving rolls H9 and the lath are then delivered to the tipple by rotation on the rolls IIS.

This machine is arranged so as to lower the lath to the elevation of the perforator. However, it is to be understood that the same principle of operation could be used if the perforating mechanism were on the same level as the board machine or above it.

In the foregoing description, I have embodied the preferred form of my invention, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, therefore, I reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. The combination of a main conveyer adapted to convey a line of articles along the same, an auxiliary conveyer beside the main conveyer, and means to select some of said articles from the main conveyer at predetermined intervals and transfer said selected articles from the main conveyer to the auxiliary conveyer according to the predetermined selection, for an additional operation on said selected articles.

2. The combination stated in claim 1, and means to return said selected articles from the auxiliary. to the main conveyer, after such operation.

3. In' a machine for conveying lath or the like and perforating selected lath so conveyed, the combination of a main conveyer adapted to convey a line of formed lath, an auxiliary conveyer beside the main conveyer, means to select some of said articles from the main conveyer at predetermined intervals and transfer said selected lath from the main conveyer to the auxiliary conveyer, and means associated with the auxiliary conveyer to perforate the lath so transferred.

4. The combination stated in claim 3, and

means' .to return the perforated lath from the Jauxiliary conveyer to the main conveyer.

. 5. The combination stated in claim ,3, and means to return the perforated lath from the auxiliary conveyer to the main'conveyer, said means including a supplemental transfer conveyerto which the perforated lath are delivered from the auxiliary conveyer. j

'6; The combination of a main conveyer adapted to convey. a row of separate articles along the same, an auxiliary conveyer extending beside the main conveyer, and means to select and lift some of, the articles from the main conveyer at predetermined intervals and transfer the same laterally onto the auxiliary conveyer for an additional operation on said selected articles.

7. The combination stated in claim 6, and

means to return said selected articles after such additional operation from the auxiliary conveyer I to the main conveyer.

8. The combination stated in claim 6, and means associated withsaid auxiliary conveyer to perforate said selected articles.

9; The combination of a main conveyer having spaced rollers on which articles travel, an auxiliary conveyer beside the main conveyer, and means to'transfer selected articles from the main conveyer to the auxiliary conveyer, said transfer means including racks movable upwardly between the rollers, to lift articles therefrom, and laterally to deposit said articles on the auxiliary conveyer.

10. The combination stated in claim 9, and means ,to time the movement of the transfer racks according to a predetermined plan, where by selected articles will be transferred from the main line of articles onthe main conveyer.

1.1; The combination stated in claim 9, and

rnea'ns to time the movement of the transfer racks according to a predetermined plan, said means including a trip mechanism actuated by articles on the main conveyer.

12. The combination of a main conveyer adapted to convey a seriesof articles in multiple rows side by side, an auxiliary conveyer extending along one side of the main conveyer, and means to transfer selected articles according to a predetermined plan from one of said rows to the auxiliary conveyer, for an additionaloperation thereon. i

13. The combination stated in claim 12, the

-main conveyer having spaced rollers, and the transfer means including racks movable upwardly between the rollers to lift the selected articles therefrom and laterally to deposit said articles on the auxiliary conveyer.

14. The combination stated in claim 12, the main conveyer having spaced rollers, and the transfer means including racks movable upwardly between the rollers to lift the selected articles therefrom and laterally to deposit said articles on the auxiliary conveyer, and means automatically operated by the movement of the main conveyer to time the movement of the transfer racks according to a predetermined plan. The combination of a main conveyer adapted to convey a line of articles along the same, an auxiliary conveyer extending beside the main conveyer and parallel thereto, and means to intermittently transfer selected articles from the main conveyer to the auxiliary conveyer, said transfer means including racks working across between the main and auxiliary conveyers in a quadrilateral line comprising an initial lifting movement, a lateral'horizontal movement, a descending movement, and a return horizontal movement to original position.

16. The combination stated in claim 15, and means automatically actuated by the movement of the main conveyer to time the operation of the transfer means according to a predetermined plan. 7

17. In a 'Inachine for-conveying and perforating formedlath or the like, the combination of a main conveyer along which a row of lath is conveyed, an auxiliary conveyer beside and paral-' lel to the main conveyer, means to select some of the said articles from the main conveyer at predetermined intervals and transfer said selected or the like in rows, a perforating machine, means to intermittently transfer lath from a row to the perforating machine forperforation thereof, and means to return the perforated lath to the original row.

20. The combination stated in claim 1, and

means to assemble said selected articles, after such additional operation, with the articles delivered from the main conveyer.

21. The combination of means to convey a plurality of rows of articles, means to remove a selected article from one of the rows, means to convey this article to a station for operation thereon, and means to return said article to its place in the original row.

22. The method of operating upon a moving stream of similar articles, comprising conveying a continuous primary stream of such similar articles, intermittently removing selected articles from said stream according to a predetermined plan; conveying said removed articles along a secondary path for operation thereon, and then returning said selected articles to the original stream. 7

23. The method according to claim 22, the movement in the secondary path being timed to return the selected articles to the primary stream in the same relative position therein that such articles occupied at the time of removal from the primary stream. a

LOUIS N. SORENSEN. 

